Indicating device



' INVENTOR Walter M- Damn ATT'ORNEY III HW A.

W M DANN INDICATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 23. 1922 Oct. 2, 1928.

WITNESSES:

A Patented Oct. 2, 1928.

WALTER M. DANN, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

INDICATING DEVICE.

Application filed September 23, 1922. Serial No. 590,207.

My invention relates to indicating devices and it has particular relation to devices adapted to indicate the condition of a gas confined within a tank.

In the manufacture of tanks adapted to contain an oil-immersed electrical apparatus, such as transformers, o-il circuit breakers and the like, it has been customary to provide breathing vents for the purpose of permitting the oil within the tank to exp and and contract with changes in the temperature thereof. Difficulty has been encountered with this type of apparatus for the reason that the oxygen contained in the air, Which was admitted to the interior of the tank through the breathing vent, combined with the oil and caused decomposition thereof.

The oxidation of the oil caused a viscous deposit or sludge that settled on the apparatus and not only retarded the radiation of heat therefrom but seriously impaired the circulation of the oil through the cooling system thereof. Furthermore, if a short circuit or are should develop in the submerged apparatus, hydrogen and methane gases would be liberated from the insulating oil which would combine with the oxygen in the air within the tank to form a blanket of highly explosive gas over the insulating oil. In the event that a spark should occur within the gas during a short circuit an explosion of considerable force would result, with consequent danger to life and property adjacent thereto.

In order, therefore, to reduce the above mentioned hazard, it has been suggested to seal the interior of the tank from the outside atmosphere and to provide suitable means for permitting the expansion and contraction of the oil and to also replace the air contained in the tank by an inert gas. This suggest-ion, while eliminating the danger from explosion, presented the difficulty of replacing the air by gas and constructing the tank with hermetically sealed seams to prevent the subsequent escape of the gas from the tank.

It has, therefore, been proposed to place Within the tank a deoxidizing agent which is adapted to extract the oxygen from the air therein and leave a blanket of inert nitrogen gas over the body of insulating oil which has no tendency to either cause the deterioration of the oil or to form an explosive mixture wlllen combined with the gases given off by the o1 One of the objects of my invention is to provide an indicating device by means of which the condition of the deoxidizing agent may be visually ascertained in order that it may be replaced when completely oxidized without prematurely removing the cover from the tank and permitting the escape of the inert gas that has been previously formed therein.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device, of the character described, which is very simple in construction and operation and which may be mounted upon a tank without material changes in the structure thereof.

lVith such objects in view, as well as other advantages which may be incident to the utilization of the improvement, the invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportions and arrangement Without departing from the nature and scope of the invention.

In order to make the invention more clear- 1y understood, means are shown in the accompanying drawings for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvement, in their useful applications, to the particular construction which, for the purpose of explanation, are made the subject of illustration.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of a tank provided with an indicating device constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partially in side elevation and partially in sect-ion, of another form of indicating device.

Referring to the drawing, a tank, adapted to contain an oil-immersed electrical apparatus, is illustrated as comprising a body portion 1 and a cover 2 which is provided with the usual man-hole 3 and cover 4.

A receptacle 5, of any suitable construction, is secured to the inner face of the cover 4 and extends downwardly into the upper portion of the tank.

When the tank is originally closed, a. de-

oxidizing agent 6, such as phosphorus, is disposed within the receptacle 5 and in free contact with the air conlined within the tank.

The de-oxidizing agent will soon absorb the oxygen contained in the air that is coniined Within the tank and leave an inert nitrogen gas over the insulating oil.

In order that the condition of t 1e de-oxidizing agent contained in the receptacle 5 may be quickly and easily ascertained without the necessity of removing the man-hole cover 4, or otherwise opening the tank, an indicating device 7 is provided on the tank. The device 7 preferably comprises a glass tube 8 which is suitably connected to the tank at its upper and lower extremities for communication with the interior thereof by means of pipes 9 A suitable receptacle is mounted within the glass tube 8 in a position where it may be conveniently observed and a replica 10 of the de-oxidizing agent is disposed therein. The proper size and proportions of the replica l0 relatively to the tube and to the main body of the deoxidizing material (3, indicates the degree of deterioration of the two bodies, as their rates of change of appearance substautially correspond. Tl e result is that tl e replica 10 becomes oxidized or otherwise deteriorates at substantially the same rate as does the main body of (lo-oxidizing material 6 and the condition of that body may therefore be readily ascertained, as by optical inspection. Specimen l0 undergoes color changes, in addition to changes in its size.

in la 2 is illustrated another form of the invention in which the tube 7 is mounted upon the cover of the tank. in this particular case, the tube 1 is secured, at its lower end, to the cover 2 of the tank by means of a nipple 11 and, at its upper end, by means of an elbow 12, union 18 and pipe i l.

By means of the above-described constructions, a very simple and inexpensive indicating device is provided which may be easily mounted on tanks of standard manufacture and which will accurately indicate the extent of the oxidation of the main body of de-oxidizingagent located within the tank.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a tank having means for de-omdizing the air contained therein, of a device for indicating the condition of said (lo-oxidizing means.

The combination with a tank adapted to contain a flui immersed apparatus, of a deoxidizing agent disposed within said tank and a device for indicating the condition of said agent.

3. The combination with a tank adapted to contain an oil-immersed electrical apparatus,

of a deoXidizing agent disposed Within said tank and a device for indicating the rate of deterioration of said agent.

4-. The combination with a tank adapted to contain an oil-immersed electrical. apparatus, of a de-oxidizing agent disposed within said tank and a replica of said agent for indicating the condition thereof.

5. The combination with a tank adapted to contain an oil-immersed electrical apparatus, of a (lo-oxidizing agent disposed Within said tank and a replica of said agent mounted exterior to said tank and in contact with the gas contained therein for indicating the condition of said agent.

he combination with a tank adapted to conta n an oil-immersed electrical apparatus. of a de-oxidizing agent disposed within said tank, a. glass tube mounted exteriorly of said tank and in conununication therewith, and a replica of said disposed within said tube for indicating the condition of said ugcn t.

'i. The combination with a tank adapted to contain an oil-innnersed electrical apparatus, of a de-oxidizing agent disposed within said tank, a transparent housing carried by said tank and a replica of said agent disposed in said housing for indicating the rate of oxidization of said agent.

8. The combination with a tank adapted to contain an oil-immersed electrical apparatus, of a ale-oxidizing agent disposed within said tank, a housing carried by said tank and a replica of said agent visually disposed within said housing for indicating the condition of said agent.

9. The combination with a. container having therein a medium comprising a plurality of gases, of means for changing the relative proportions of said gases, and means con trolled by said meciuin for indicating a condition of said first named i'neans.

10. The combination with a container having therein a medium con'iprising a plurality of gases, of means for changing the relative proportions of said gases, and means reacting with said medium for indicating a condition of said first named means.

11. The combination with a container having therein a. medium comprising a plurality of gases, of means for changing the relative proportions of said gases, and means controlled by said medium and disposed exteriorly of said container for indicating a condition of said first lltlli'lQCl means.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th'day of Sep- WALTER itnrinn.

ten'iber, 1922. 

